Entre sons e silêncios: o suicídio adolescente na internet e as composições artísticas de Yoñlu

Abstract

This study analyzes the musical compositions of an adolescent artistically known as Yoñlu, who died by assisted suicide through the internet. The theoretical foundation of this study is based on the Historical-Cultural Psychology perspective, which understands human development as occurring through the interaction between the individual and their social, historical and cultural context. The objective was to analyze the psychosocial meanings present in Yoñlu's compositions in order to investigate how art can symbolize psychic suffering in adolescents with suicidal ideation. The methodological strategies followed the criteria of Thematic Analysis applied to the following compositions: 1) Suicide Song, 2) I Know What It's Like, 3) Mecânica Celeste Aplicada, and 4) Humiliation. As a result of the research, 32 meaning cores were identified, based on the compositions’ content, giving rise to the following thematic categories: Love and Disillusionment, Hopelessness/Self-deprecation, Suicidal Ideation, Humiliation/Social Inadequacy, Hope, Loneliness, and Psychic Pain/Suffering. The analysis revealed expressions of experiences lived by the lyrical self in relation to the environment, to others, and to the self, as well as the evoked feelings by such experiences. As a repercussion of the study, it seeks to contribute to the understanding of the symbolic potential of art in the elaboration of psychic suffering in adolescence. The findings may be expanded through further case studies that explore specific characteristics of adolescence.